1. Purpose. The purpose of this Instructional Memorandum (IM) is to document the new competitive areas for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS or Bureau).

2. Background. Competitive areas are established to define the boundaries within which employees compete for retention under reduction-in-force procedures. A competitive area is defined in terms of an organizational unit(s) and geographical location, and it must include all employees within the competitive area so defined. A competitive area may consist of all or part of an agency. The minimum competitive area is a subdivision of the agency under separate administration within the local commuting area. In the USGS, competitive areas have been established primarily at the science center and/or office level.

This document serves to update the issuance and expiration date of the IM. Anticipated changes to naming conventions for Geology Teams will be incorporated into a later issuance.

3. Responsibilities. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is responsible for establishing Bureau competitive areas. OHR coordinates with and gains the concurrence of the managers of the affected organizations when establishing competitive areas.

4. Cancellation. Competitive areas are subject to periodic revision. This IM will remain in effect until March 31, 2010, or until superseded by a revision.

5. Prescribed Competitive Areas.

Area 1000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Director

Area 1001 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Communications

Area 1002 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Budget and Performance

Area 1020 Local Commuting Area –All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geospatial Information

Area 1030 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Biology

Area 1040 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Water

Area 1050 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geography

Area 1070 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geology

Area 1100 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Human Capital

Area 1101 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Human Resources

Area 1102 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity

Area 1103 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Employee Development

Area 1210 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the National Geospatial Programs Office

Area 1220 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center

Area 1230 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Information Technology and Security

Area 1240 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Science Information and Education

Area 1310 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief Scientist for Biology

Area 1320 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Associate Chief Biologist for Information

Area 1330 Local commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Cooperative Research Unit

Area 1410 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief Scientist for Hydrology

Area 1420 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Water Information

Area 1430 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Surface Water

Area 1440 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Groundwater

Area 1450 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Water Quality including the Office of National Water Quality Assessment

Area 1510 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Land Remote Sensing

Area 1520 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Geographic Analysis and Monitoring

Area 1530 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science

Area 1600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Administrative Policy and Services

Area 1610 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Accounting and Financial Management

Area 1613 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Internal Controls and Reporting

Area 1630 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Management Services

Area 1640 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Business Information Systems

Area 1650 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Acquisition and Grants

Area 1660 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Policy and Analysis

Area 1710 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief Scientist for Geology including the Science Information Resources Group

Area 2000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Eastern Region

Area 2200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Eastern Region

Area 2600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Eastern Region

Area 2601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Eastern Region

Area 2602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Eastern Region

Area 2604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Eastern Region

Area 2605 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisition and Grants, Eastern Region

Area 2606 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Eastern Region

Area 2010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Northeast Area, Eastern Region

Area 2301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Leetown Science Center

Area 2302 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Director, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Area 2401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Connecticut Water Science Center

Area 2402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Maine Water Science Center

Area 2403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Water Science Center

Area 2404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center

Area 2406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Hampshire/Vermont Water Science Center

Area 2407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Jersey Water Science Center

Area 2408 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New York Water Science Center

Area 2409 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Area 2410 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Virginia Water Science Center

Area 2411 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, West Virginia Water Science Center

Area 2701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team

Area 2702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Coastal/Marine Geology Team

Area 2703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Minerals Information Team

Area 3010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Southeast Area, Eastern Region

Area 3100 Local Commuting Area–All positions assigned to the Florida Integrated Science Center

Area 3401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Alabama Water Science Center

Area 3402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Georgia Water Science Center

Area 3403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Mississippi Water Science Center

Area 3404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, North Carolina Water Science Center

Area 3406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Caribbean Water Science Center

Area 3407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, South Carolina Water Science Center

Area 3408 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Tennessee Water Science Center

Area 3501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Eastern Geographic Science Center

Area 4010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Midwest Area, Eastern Region

Area 4301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center

Area 4302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, National Wildlife Health Center

Area 4303 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Great Lakes Science Center

Area 4401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Illinois Water Science Center

Area 4402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Indiana Water Science Center

Area 4403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Kentucky Water Science Center

Area 4404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Michigan Water Science Center

Area 4405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Ohio Water Science Center

Area 4406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Wisconsin Water Science Center

Area 4701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team

Area 4702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Energy Resources Team

Area 5000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Central Region

Area 5600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Central Region

Area 5601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Central Region

Area 5602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Central Region

Area 5603 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Central Region

Area 5604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisition and Grants, Central Region

Area 5605 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Central Region

Area 5200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Central Region

Area 5010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, North Central Area, Central Region

Area 5301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Area 5302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Area 5401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Iowa Water Science Center

Area 5402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Minnesota Water Science Center

Area 5403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Montana Water Science Center

Area 5404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Nebraska Water Science Center

Area 5405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, North Dakota Water Science Center

Area 5406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, South Dakota Water Science Center

Area 5407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Wyoming Water Science Center

Area 6010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, South Central Area, Central Region

Area 6301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Area 6302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, National Wetlands Research Center

Area 6401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Arkansas Water Science Center

Area 6402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Kansas Water Science Center

Area 6403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Louisiana Water Science Center

Area 6404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Missouri Water Science Center

Area 6405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Oklahoma Water Science Center

Area 6406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Texas Water Science Center

Area 6501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center

Area 7010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Rocky Mountain Area, Central Region

Area 7301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Fort Collins Science Center

Area 7401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Colorado Water Science Center

Area 7402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Mexico Water Science Center

Area 7501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center

Area 7701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team

Area 7702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team

Area 7703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Energy Resources Team

Area 7704 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Geologic Hazards Team

Area 7705 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Crustal Imaging and Characterization Team

Area 8000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Western Region

Area 8200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Western Region

Area 8600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Western Region

Area 8601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Western Region

Area 8602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Western Region

Area 8603 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Western Region

Area 8604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisitions and Grants, Western Region

Area 8605 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Western Region

Area 8010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Southwest Area, Western Region

Area 8301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center

Area 8302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Western Ecological Research Center

Area 8303 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Southwest Biological Science Center

Area 8401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Arizona Water Science Center

Area 8402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, California Water Science Center

Area 8403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Hawaii Water Science Center

Area 8404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Nevada Water Science Center

Area 8405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Utah Water Science Center

Area 8501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Western Geographic Science Center

Area 8701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team

Area 8702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team

Area 8703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Coastal and Marine Geology Team

Area 8704 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earthquake Hazards Team

Area 8705 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Volcano Hazards Team

Area 8706 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Astrogeology Team

Area 9010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Northwest Area, Western Region

Area 9301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Area 9302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Western Fisheries Research Center

Area 9401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Idaho Water Science Center

Area 9402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Oregon Water Science Center

Area 9403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Washington Water Science Center

Area 9901 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Regional Executive for Alaska

Area 9911 Local Commuting Area-All positions assigned to the Alaska Integrated Science Center

Area 9800 Local Commuting Area–All departmental and field service positions in foreign geographical locations